Coin receiver having emergency stop



June 15, 1965 N. G. WEITZMAN COIN RECEIVER HAVING EMERGENCY STOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1963 M MM 2 7 5 m7 e v 552 m w o W A 5 a HMA mm M W W W M m June 1965 N. G. WEITZMAN COIN RECEIVER HAVING EMERGENCY STOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR. NORMA/V G. WE/TZMAA/ BY MA/ldA/EY, HALBEET d: fiaeueA/a-re ArrazA/zys- United States PatentO 3,189,152 COIN RECEIVER HAVING EMERGENCY STOP Norman G. Weitzman, Sepulveda, Califi, assignor to Oak Manufacturing Co., Inc., Culver City, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 294,914 9 Claims. (Cl. 194-97) This invention relates to a coin receiver for use in conjunction wtih vending machines.

Coin receivers for use in conjunction with vending machines are adapted to receive a coin and, upon receipt of the coin, to permit rotation of a coin wheel which controls the dispensing of articles from the vending machine.

Of course, vending machines are exposed to a variety of larcenous practices intended to cause the operation of the coin receiver without the deposit-ion of a coin therein and various expedients have been utilized to prevent what .is known in the vending machine art as the milking of the machine.

In order to prevent the rotation of the coin wheel which is customarily utilized for the reception of a coin in coin receivers, a coin dog is provided which engages the wall of a coin receptacle in the coin wheel if no coin has been placed therein. In addition, a washer dog has been provided which prevents rotation of the coin wheel if an attempt is made to operate the coin receiver by placing a washer in the coin receptacle of the coin wheel. Moreover, a reverse dog adapted to prevent reverse rotation of the coin wheel has been provided so that the coin wheel may not be reversely rotated to discharge the contents of the vending machine.

However, failure of the reverse dog or coin and washer dogs to operate will permit free rotation of the coin wheel and consequent discharge of the contents of the vending machine without the deposition of a coin in the coin re- Another object of my invention is the provision of a coinreceiver adapted to be utilized in conjunction with vending machines which incorporates the conventional rotation preventing mechanisms and which, in addition,

incorporates emergency means constituted byan emergency dog and a corresponding detent opening in the associated coin wheel adapted to prevent rotation of the coin wheel if any of the other mechanisms utilized to prevent the rotation of the coin wheel become inoperative.

An additional object of myinvention is the provision, in a coin receiver of the aforementionedcharacter, of an emergency dog which is mounted in the housing of the coin receiver in a radial orientation with respect to the coin wheel. and in which the coin wheel is provided with a detent opening radially oriented with respect to said coin wheel so that the emergency dog may engage the coin wheel to prevent rotation thereof in either a forward or reverse direction whereas the other rotation preventing mechanisms are adapted only to prevent rotation of th coin wheel in a forward or a reverse direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification andthe accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

; FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a coin receiver constructedin accordance with the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the broken line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the coin receiver;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the various components of the coin receiver in one attitude of operation; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the emergency dog of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, I show a coin receiver 10 adapted to be associated with the body 12 of a vending machine, said body being shown fragmentarily in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The coin receiver 10 includes a housing 14 which 7 incorporates a face plate 16 having a back plate 18 secured therein upon a shank 24 of an operating handle 26. Openings 28, 32 and 34 are provided in the back plate 18 and are adapted to expose portions of the coin wheel 22 during its rotation therepast for purposes to be described in greater detail hereinbelow. A coin slot 38 is provided in the face plate 16 and is adapted to facilitate the insertion of a coin into a semi-circular coin receptacle 40 formed in the perimeter of the coin wheel 22. The receptacle 40 has an arcuate wall 42 adapted to conform to the shape of a coin inserted in said receptacle.

The coin receptacle 40 is also provided with a back wall 44, said back wall having a substantially semicircular emergency detent opening 46 formed therein and radially oriented with respect to the coin wheel 22. Formed in the perimeter of the coin wheel 22 is a plurality of dogging teeth 48 which are adapted, in a manner to be described in greater detail below, to prevent rotation of the coin wheel 22 in a reverse direction, thus preventing the coin wheel 22 from being rotated in a reverse direction to dispense merchandise from an associated vending machine without the deposition of acoin in the coin receptacle 40.

Mounted adjacent the path of rotation of the coin wheel 22 is a coin dog 52, said coin dog, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, being biased into operative engagement with the perimeter of the coin wheel 22 by a leaf spring 54. Therefore, when the coin wheel 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 56 of FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, and no coin is located in the coin receptacle 40, the coin dog 52 will impinge upon the arcuate Wall 42 of the coin receptacle 40 to prevent further rotation of the coin wheel 22. In this manner, free rotation of the coin wheel 22 to dispense merchandise from an associated vending machine without the insertion of a coin in the coin receptacle 40 is prevented.

Pivotally supported in a corresponding recess 62 in the back plate 18 is a washer dog 64, as best shown in FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings. The washer dog 64 is maintained in operative relationship with the associated socket 62 by means of an overlying leaf spring 66 which is secured in operative relationship with the back plate 18 by means of a screw 68. It will be noted that the downwardly bent extremity 72 of the washer dog 64 engages the surface of the coin wheel 22, and that it is adapted, as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, to drop into the emergency detent opening 46 through the centrally located opening in a washer if a washer is inserted into the coin receptacle 40 in substitution for a coin.

Furthermore, if the coin dog 52 should fail to operate, or if a thin implement should be inserted into engagement with the coin dog 52 to bias it outwardly against the spring 54 and away from the perimeter of the coin wheel 22, the bent extremity 72 of the washer dog 64 will drop into the emergency detent opening 46 and prevent further rotation of the coin wheel 22. Moreover, it will be noted that the washer dog 64 is mounted substantially tangentially of the path of movement of the coin wheel 22 to permit the downwardly bent extremity 72 thereof to engage in the opening 46.

Mounted within the housing 14 of the coin receiver 16) for pivotal movement with respect to the perimeter of the coin wheel 22 is a reversal preventing dog 82, which is biased inwardly toward the perimeter of the coin wheel 22 by means of a leaf spring 84. Therefore, when an attempt is made to accomplish reverse movement of the coin wheel 22 by rotating the coin wheel 22 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. and 6 of the drawings, the upper extremity 86 of the reversal-preventing dog 82 will engage a corresponding reversal-preventing tooth 48 on the perimeter of coin wheel 22 and, thus, prevent continued reverse rotation of the coin wheel 22, which would result in the dispensing of merchandise from an associated vending machine without the deposition of a coin in the coin receptacle 40. It will be noted that the reversalpreventing dog 82 is located substantially tangentially of the perimeter of the coin wheel 22.

Supported for pivotal movement upon the back plate 18 in a socket 2 is an emergency dog 94. The emergency dog 94 is maintained in operative relationship with the back plate 1% by means of a leaf spring 96 operatively secured to the back plate 1-8 by means of a screw 98. The downwardly bent extremity 1G2 of the emergency dog 9% overlies the coin wheel 22 and the emergency dog 94 is oriented radially with respect to said coin wheel.

Therefore, when a coin is inserted in the coin receptacle 4!) and the coin wheel 22 rotated by the actuating handle 26, the coin dog 52 will engage the perimeter of the coin in the receptacle 4% and be urged outwardly against bias of the associated spring 54 and, of course, the downwardly bent extremity 72 of the washer dog 64 will be prevented from engaging the detent opening 46 by the coin in the receptacle 4%.

Correspondingly, the downwardly bent extremity 192 of the emergency dog 94 will also be isolated by the coin in the receptacle 4% from engagement with the emergency detent opening 46.

If the reversal-preventing dog 82 should become inoperative, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, as by the breaking of the spring 84 or other contingencies, reverse movement of the coin wheel 22 would not be prevented by the customarily supplied coin dog 52 and Washer dog 64. This is attributable to the fact that reverse rotation of the coin wheel 22 would merely cause the coin dog 52 and washer dog 64 to be lifted into positions where they would be inoperative to prevent continued reverse movement of the coin wheel 22.

Conversely, if the coin dog 52 and washer dog 64 should become inoperative, the reversal-preventing dog 82 is ineffective to prevent continued rotation of the coin wheel 22 in the direction of the arrow 56, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, which will result in continued dispensing of mechandise from an associated vending machine. This is attributable to the fact that the upper extremity 86 of the reversal-preventing dog 82 would merely ratchet over the reversal-preventing teeth 48 and merchandise could be freely dispensed from the associated vending machine.

However, in both of the aforementioned contingencies, the emergency dog 94 will effectively prevent rotation of the coin wheel 22 in either a forward or reverse direction. If the reversal-preventing dog 82 should become inoperative, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, continuous reverse rotation of the coin Wheel 22 in a clockwise direction would be prevented by the dropping of the bent extremity 102 of the emergency dog 94 into the corresponding emergency opening 46. The spring 96 serves to bias the emergency dog 94 into engagement with the emergency detent opening 46 to maintain it in operative relationship with said opening 46.

Correspondingly, if the coin and washer dogs 52 and 64, respectively, should fail to operate for any reason, rotation of the coin wheel 22 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow 56 of FIGS. 5 and 6 would ultimately bring the emergency detent opening 46 into operative engagement with the bent outer extremity 102 of the emergency dog )4 to prevent further dispensing rotation of the coin wheel 22.

Thus, the emergency dog 94 will serve eilectively to prevent rotation of the coin wheel 22 in either a forward or reverse direction if the associated dogs should fail for any reason, and if no coin is located in the coin receptacle 49. Of course, if a coin is located in the coin receptacle 40, the bent extremity 192 of the emergency dog 94 cannot engage the detent opening 46, and the coin wheel 22 can thus be rotated past the extremity 162 of the coin dog 94.

There is thus providm by the invention an emergency dogging means adapted to prevent continuous dispensing rotation of the associated coin wheel upon the failure of the dogs customarily utilized to prevent rotation of said coin wheel when a coin is not deposited in the coin receptacle of said coin wheel. The emergency dogging means of the invention is adapted to prevent rotation of the coin wheel in either a forward or reverse direction, and, if the associated dogging means should become inoperative for any reason, will immediately become operative to prevent such rotation.

I claim:

1. In a coin mechanism adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a vending machine and to receive a coin, the combination of: a housing having a coin receiving slot therein; a coin wheel mounted for rotation on said housing including a coin receptacle, said coin Wheel having a detent opening therein and a plurality of perimetrical dogging teeth; a handle on said coin wheel adapted to rotate the same; a coin dog mounted in said housing and engageable with a wall of said receptacle to prevent the rotation of said coin wheel when a coin is absent from said receptacle; a washer dog mounted in said housing and engageable with a washer placed in said receptacle in substitution for a coin to prevent rotation of said coin wheel; a reverse dog engageable with said perimetrical dogging teeth to prevent reverse rotation of said coin wheel; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening and adapted to prevent rotation of said coin wheel should said coin dog, washer dog or reverse dog fail to operate.

2. In a coin receiver for a vending machine, the combination of: a housing having a coin slot therein; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing, said coin wheel incorporating a coin receptacle having a detent opening in a wall thereof, said coin wheel incorporating a plurality of dogging teeth in its perimetrical edge adapted to prevent the reverse rotation thereof; a coin dog engageable with a wall of said coin receptacle adapted to prevent rotation of said coin wheel when a coin is absent from said receptacle; a washer dog mounted in said housing adjacent the perimeter of said coin wheel adapted to prevent rotation of said coin wheel by engagement with a washer located in said receptacle; a reverse dog engage able with said dogging teeth on said wheel to prevent reverse rotation of said coin wheel; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening and adapted to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon the failure of said coin, washer or reverse dogs to operate.

3. In a coin receiver adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a vending machine, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing including a coin receptacle having an arcuate wall conforming to the configuration of a coin and a radially oriented detent opening, said coin wheel incorporating a plurality of perimetrical teeth for preventing reverse rotation of said coin wheel; a coin dog mounted in said housing and engageable with said wall of said coin rewheel; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent.

reverse rotation of said coin wheel; and an emergency dog mounted in said housing radially of said coin Wheel and engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon the failure of said coin,

washer or reverse dogs to operate.

4. In a coin receiver adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a vending machine, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing including a coin receptacle having an arcuate wall conforming to the configuration of a coin and a radially oriented detent opening, said coin wheel incorporating a plurality of perimetrical teeth for preventing reverse rotation of said coin wheel, said radial detent opening being located in said coin receptacle; a coin dog mounted in said housing and engageable with said wall of said coin receptacle to prevent rotation of said coin wheel when a coin is absent from said receptacle; a washer dog mounted in said housing engageable with a washer located in said coin receptacle to prevent rotation of said coin wheel; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent reverse rotation of said coin wheel; and an emergency dog mounted in said housing radially of said coin wheel and engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon the failure of said coin, washer or reverse dogs to operate.

5. In a coin receiver for use in controlling the operation of an associated vending machine, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing, said coin wheel including a coin receptacle in its perimeter adapted to receive a coin, said coin receptacle having a detent opening therein and said coin wheel incorporating a plurality of perimetrical teeth adapted to prevent reverse rotation thereof; coin and washer dogs mounted in said housing in overlying relationship with said coin wheel; a reverse dog mounted in said housing in substantially tangential relationship with the perimeter of said coin wheel and adapted to engage said teeth; and an emergency dog mounted radially of said coin wheel adapted to engage said detent opening to prevent reverse rotation of said coin wheel.

6. In a coin receiver forrvending machines, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing, said coin wheel having a coin receptacle, a detent opening and a plurality of perimetrical reversal presenting teeth therein; a coin dog associated with said coin wheel and mounted in said housing engageable with said receptacle to prevent rotation of said coin wheel when said receptacle is empty; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said coin wheel in a reverse direction; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon failure of either said coin dog or reverse dog.

7. In a coin receiver for vending machines, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rota-' tion in said housing, said coin wheel having a coin receptacle, a detent opening and a plurality of perimetrical reversal preventing teeth therein, said detent opening being formed in said receptacle; a coin dog associated with said coin wheel and mounted in said housing engageable with said receptacle to prevent rotation of said coin Wheel when said receptacle is empty; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said coin wheel in a reverse direction; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon failure of either said coin dog or reverse dog.

8. In a coin receiver for vending machines, the combination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing, said coin wheel having a coin receptacle, a detent opening and a plurality of perimetrical reversal preventing teeth therein, said detent opening being formed radially of said wheel; a coin dog associated with said coin wheel and mounted in said housing engageable with said receptacle to prevent rotation of said coin wheel when said receptacle is empty; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said coin wheel in a reverse direction; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin Wheel u-pon failure of either said coin dog or reverse dog, said emergency dog being located radially of said Wheel to engage said radially oriented detent opening.

9. In a coin receiver for vending machines, the com bination of: a housing; a coin wheel mounted for rotation in said housing, said coin wheel having a coin receptacle, a detent opening and a plurality of perimetrical reversal preventing teeth therein, said detent opening being located in said receptacle and oriented radially of said wheel; a coin dog associated with said coin wheel and mounted in said housing engageable-with said receptable to prevent notation of said coin wheel when said receptacle is empty; a reverse dog engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said coin wheel in a reverse direction; and an emergency dog engageable with said detent opening to prevent rotation of said coin wheel upon failure of either said coin dog or reverse dog, said emergency dog being mounted in said housing radially of said wheel to engage said correspondingly radial detent opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,784,827 3/57 Jenkins 194-61 FOREIGN PATENTS 227,945 11/58 Australia.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

6. IN A COIN RECEIVER FOR VENDING MACHINES, THE COMBINATION OF: A HOUSING; A COIN WHEEL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID HOUSING, SAID COIN WHEEL HAVING A COIN RECEPTACLE, A DETENT OPENING AND A PLURALITY OF PERIMETRICAL REVERSAL PRESENTING TEETH THEREIN; A COIN DOG ASSOCIATED WITH SAID COIN WHEEL AND MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RECEPTACLE TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID COIN WHEEL WHEN SAID RECEPTABLE IS EMPTY; A REVERSE DOG ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TEETH TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID COIN WHEEL IN A REVERSE DIRECTION; AND AN EMERGENCY DOG ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENT OPENING TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID COIN WHEEL UPON FAILURE OF EITHER SAID COIN DOG OR REVERSE DOG. 